Axi-centrifugal compressor with variable outlet guide vanes

ABSTRACT

A compressor apparatus includes: an upstream portion comprising an axial-flow compressor; a downstream portion comprising a centrifugal-flow compressor; and a row of variable-stagger-angle outlet guide vanes disposed between the upstream and downstream portions.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

The U.S. Government may have certain rights in this invention pursuant to contract no W911W6-11-2-0009 awarded by the Department of Defense.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to turbomachinery compressors and more particularly relates to variable stator elements of such compressors.

A gas turbine engine includes, in serial flow communication, a compressor, a combustor, and turbine collectively constituting a turbomachinery core. The core is operable in a known manner, in conjunction with other engine components, to perform useful work such as providing propulsive thrust or mechanical work. One known configuration of the compressor is the “axi-centrifugal” compressor which includes an upstream axial-flow portion that discharges through a duct to a downstream centrifugal-flow portion.

Because of cycle demands for high pressure ratio and high efficiency, the diffuser throat flow area at the downstream end of the axi-centrifugal compressor is often relatively small. The result is that at part-speed conditions the maximum flow of the centrifugal portion of the compressor is less than the minimum stable flow of the axial compressor (i.e. the axial is pushed beyond its stall line). In prior art designs, compressor stability is achieved by extracting or “bleeding” excess flow from a location between the axial and the centrifugal compressor portions, or by using inlet guide vanes with a variable effective angle in the axial portion in order to throttle mass flow. Both of these methods can have negative impacts on performance and have limits to their effectiveness.

Accordingly, there remains a need for an axi-centrifugal compressor that is operable with good efficiency at varying flow rates.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This need is addressed by a compressor having an upstream axial portion and a downstream centrifugal portion. Variable guide vanes are disposed between the axial and centrifugal portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a half-sectional, schematic view of a gas turbine engine that incorporates a compressor apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an aft elevational view of a portion of the compressor apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged half-sectional view of a portion of the compressor apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a set of outlet guide vanes in a first position;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a set of outlet guide vanes in a second position; and

FIG. 6 is a half-sectional view of a portion of an alternative compressor apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings wherein identical reference numerals denote the same elements throughout the various views, FIG. 1 depicts an exemplary compressor 10. In the illustrated example, the compressor 10 is incorporated into a gas turbine engine 12 with a central longitudinal axis “A” and including in sequential flow sequence, the compressor 10, a combustor 14, and a gas generator turbine 16 (the combustor 14 and compressor 16 are shown schematically). As used herein, the terms “axial” and “longitudinal” both refer to a direction parallel to the axis A, while “radial” refers to a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and “tangential” or “circumferential” refers to a direction mutually perpendicular to the axial and tangential directions. As used herein, the terms “forward” or “front” refer to a location relatively upstream in an air flow passing through or around a component, and the terms “aft” or “rear” refer to a location relatively downstream in an air flow passing through or around a component. The direction of this flow is shown by the arrow “F” in FIG. 1. These directional terms are used merely for convenience in description and do not require a particular orientation of the structures described thereby.

The compressor 10 provides compressed air that passes primarily into the combustor 14 to support combustion and partially around the combustor 14 where it is used to cool both the combustor liners and turbomachinery further downstream. Fuel is introduced into the forward end of the combustor 14 and is mixed with the air in a conventional fashion. The resulting fuel-air mixture flows into the combustor 14 where it is ignited to generate hot combustion gases. The hot combustion gases are discharged to the gas generator turbine 16 where they are expanded so that energy is extracted. The gas generator turbine 16 drives the compressor 10 through a shaft 18. In the illustrated example, the engine 12 is a turboshaft engine and a work turbine (also called a power turbine) 20 is located downstream of the gas generator turbine 16 and coupled to an output shaft 22 which can be connected to a mechanical load. However, the principles described herein are equally applicable to any axi-centrifugal compressor. For example, they may apply to a compressor driven by an external prime mover.

The compressor 10 includes an upstream portion 24 and a downstream portion 26. An annular casing 28 surrounds the entire compressor 10. As viewed in cross-section, an aft portion of the casing 28 includes an outer skirt 30 that diverges radially outward from the main body of the casing 28, forming a “Y” shape. The upstream portion 24 of the compressor 10 is configured for axial fluid flow and may also be referred to as an axial-flow portion or simply an axial portion. It includes a number of stages, each of which includes a row of rotating airfoils or blades 32 and a row of stationary airfoils or vanes 34. The vanes 34 serve to turn the airflow exiting an upstream row of blades 32 before it enters the downstream row of blades 32.

Optionally, one or more rows of the vanes (one row, denoted 34′ shown in FIG. 1) may be variable stator vanes or simply “VSVs”; the vanes 34′ of these stages are constructed so that their angle of incidence (also referred to as “stagger angle”) can be changed in operation (i.e. these stator vanes 34′ can be pivoted about the axes shown in dashed lines). The VSVs enable throttling of flow through the upstream portion 24 in a known manner, so that it can operate efficiently at both high and low mass flow rates, without the losses incurred by other mechanisms such as bleed valves. The vane 34′ of each VSV stage has a corresponding trunnion 36 that extends radially outward through the casing 28. An actuator arm 38 is attached to the distal end of each trunnion 36. All of the actuator arms 38 for an individual stage are coupled together by a unison ring 40. Rotation of the unison ring 40 about the engine's longitudinal axis A thus causes all of the actuator arms 28 coupled to that ring 40 to move in unison, in turn pivoting all of the trunnions 36 with their attached stator vanes 34′ in unison. Any known type of actuator that is effective to turn the unison rings 40 may be used to operate the VSVs 34′. For example, hydraulic or electrical linear actuators may be used for this purpose. In the illustrated example, actuator 42 is shown schematically, coupled to the unison ring 40. The actuator 42 is operably connected to a controller 44, shown schematically in FIG. 1. This is a device capable of sending control signals to the actuators 42 and/or controlling the flow of an energy source such as pressurized fluid or electrical power. The controller 44 may be part of known engine control device such as a hydromechanical unit, a power management unit (“PMU”), or a full authority digital electronic control (“FADEC”).

The downstream portion 26 of the compressor 10 is configured for centrifugal or mixed axial-centrifugal fluid flow and may be referred to as a centrifugal-flow portion or simply a centrifugal portion.

The downstream portion 26 includes an impeller 46 mounted for rotation with the shaft 18, and having axially forward and aft ends 48 and 50. The impeller 46 defines a generally concave-curved inner flowpath surface 52. The inner flowpath surface 52 extends in a generally longitudinal direction towards the forward end 48 and extends in a generally radial direction near the aft end 50. An annular array of airfoil-shaped impeller blades 54 extend radially outward from the inner flowpath surface 52. The impeller blades 54 are configured in terms of their dimensions, cross-sectional shape, orientation, spacing, and other parameters (in accordance with conventional practice) to provide an incremental pressure increase to the air flowing past them as the impeller 46 rotates. An annular array of splitter blades 56 alternate with the impeller blades 54 around the circumference of the impeller 46. The splitter blades 56 are similar in form to the impeller blades 54 but are shorter in axial length.

An annular shroud assembly 58 surrounds the impeller 46. The shroud assembly 58 defines a generally convex-curved outer flowpath surface 60 that closely surrounds the tips of the impeller and splitter blades 54 and 56. Together the inner and outer flowpath surfaces 52 and 60 define a primary flowpath through the downstream portion 26. A forward end of the shroud assembly 58 adjoins the casing 28, and the casing 28, its outer skirt 30, and the shroud assembly 58 collectively define the boundaries of an annular plenum 62.

A row of airfoil-shaped outlet guide vanes (“OGVs”) 64 are disposed between the upstream portion 24 and the downstream portion 26. The OGVs 64 are constructed so that their stagger angle can be changed in operation (i.e. the OGVs 64 can be pivoted about the axis shown by a dashed line). The variable OGVs 64 enable changing the swirl (i.e. tangential velocity) of flow from the upstream portion 24 entering the downstream portion 26, as explained in more detail below. Each OGV 64 has a corresponding trunnion 66 that extends radially outward through the casing 28, into the plenum 62. An actuator arm 68 is attached to the distal end of each trunnion 66. All of the actuator arms 68 for the OGVs 64 are coupled together by a unison ring 70 disposed inside the plenum 62.

A bellcrank 72, best seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, is mounted in the outer skirt 30 at approximately the same axial position as the OGVs 64. The bellcrank 72 includes a barrel 74 mounted for rotation in a bushing 76 in the outer skirt 30, an inner arm 78 disposed in the plenum 62, and an outer arm 80 disposed outside the outer skirt 30. The inner and outer arms 78 and 80 rotate as a unit with the barrel 74. A distal end of the inner arm 78 is connected to the unison ring 70 by a link 82 which extends in a generally tangential direction.

An actuator 84 (see FIG. 1) is disposed outside the outer skirt 30 and is coupled to a distal end of the outer arm 80. Any known type of actuator that is effective to turn the bellcrank 72 may be used to operate the OGVs 64. For example, hydraulic or electrical linear actuators may be used for this purpose. The actuators 84 is operably connected to the controller 44 shown schematically in FIG. 1. Thus coupled, linear movement of the actuator 84 causes pivoting of the bellcrank 72, in turn causing rotation of the unison ring 70. Rotation of the unison ring 70 about the engine's longitudinal axis A thus causes all of the actuator arms 68 coupled to the unison ring 70 to move in unison, in turn pivoting all of the trunnions 66 with their attached OGVs 64 simultaneously. Together, the link 82 and bellcrank 72 constitute a mechanical linkage operable to interconnect the actuator 84 and the unison ring 70. This permits the OGVs 64 to be operated without having to locate an actuator in the high-temperature, relatively crowded confines of the plenum 62. Other functionally-equivalent mechanical linkages and/or actuator configurations could be substituted for this purpose.

For example, FIG. 6 illustrates an alternative arrangement in which the OGVs 64 are coupled to extended trunnions 66′ that span across the plenum 62 and pass through an alternative version of the outer skirt 30′. An actuator arm 68′ is attached to the distal end of each trunnion 66′ and may be coupled to a unison ring 70′ and actuator 84′ disposed outside the outer skirt 30′ (similar to the arrangement of unison ring 40 and actuator 42 shown in FIG. 1).

In operation, the controller 44 is used to determine the proper stagger angle of the OGVs 64 and optionally the VSVs 34′ for each engine operating condition. This may be implemented, for example, by way of an internally-stored electronic map or table listing the desired stagger angles for each operating condition. The engine's operating condition or state may be defined by one or more parameters such as operator control inputs, engine speed, or the fluid temperatures or pressures at various locations within the engine 12, all of which may be determined using known types of sensor devices. Based on the determination, the OGVs 64 and optionally VSVs 34 are then driven to the desired stagger angles using the actuators 42 and 84. FIG. 4 illustrates the OGVs 64 at a first relatively open stagger angle 13 which would result in a first, relatively lower tangential velocity “V1” or swirl of the flow passing therethrough. FIG. 5 illustrates the OGVs 64 at a second relatively closed stagger angle 13 which would result in a second, relatively higher tangential velocity “V2” or swirl of the flow passing therethrough.

The compressor 10 is capable of operating both at lower rotor speeds with lower mass flow and pressure ratio and at higher rotor speeds with higher mass flow and pressure ratio. As a general principle, the mass flow of the upstream and downstream portions 24 and 26 is inherently well-matched at higher power conditions (e.g. cruise power). However at partial power conditions the maximum flow through the downstream portion 26 of the compressor 10 is lower than required for stable operation of the upstream portion 24. According to the principles described herein, under such partial power conditions the OGVs 64 would be “opened”, that is moving the OGVs relatively from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 4. This lowers the swirl in the flow entering the downstream portion 26. This has the effect of increasing the pressure ratio and flow rate of the downstream portion 26. The flow rates are better matched and the axial operating line is lowered.

Optionally, in addition to manipulating the OGVs 64, the VSVs 34 may be closed at partial power levels, to reduce the flow and pressure ratio of the upstream portion 24 and better match the flow in the downstream portion 26. Optionally, air may be bled away from the upstream portion 24 in addition to manipulating the OGVs 64.

The apparatus described herein has several advantages over the prior art. The ability to lower the swirl entering the downstream centrifugal compressor will increase the pressure ratio and flow rate of the centrifugal compressor and lower the axial compressor operating line. This translates into lower bleed extraction at constant operability or improved operability margin with current levels of bleed. Reduction of bleed level has the intrinsic benefit of permitting smaller structures and lower weight. Additionally the variable OGV can be used to optimize efficiency along the operating line by changing the relative loading between the axial and the centrifugal portions of the compressor.

The foregoing has described a compressor with variable outlet guide vanes. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying potential points of novelty, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A compressor apparatus comprising: an upstream portion comprising an axial-flow compressor; a downstream portion comprising a centrifugal-flow compressor; and a row of variable-stagger-angle outlet guide vanes disposed between the upstream and downstream portions.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the downstream portion is surrounded by a casing with a main portion and an outer skirt collectively defining an annular plenum, and: the outlet guide vanes are mounted to the main portion of the casing; an actuator is mounted outside the outer skirt; and a linkage interconnecting the actuator to the outlet guide vanes passes through the plenum.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein: each outlet guide vane includes a trunnion and an actuator arm, and all the actuator arms are connected by a unison ring located in the plenum; and the linkage includes a bell crank mounted in the outer skirt with an outer arm connected to the actuator outside the outer skirt, and an inner arm connected to the unison ring inside the plenum.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein a tangentially-aligned link connects the inner arm of the bellcrank and the unison ring, inside the plenum.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein: the downstream portion is surrounded by a casing with a main portion and an outer skirt defining an annular plenum; the outlet guide vanes are mounted to the main portion of the casing; and each outlet guide vane includes a trunnion passing through the plenum and the outer skirt, and an actuator arm mounted to the trunnion outside the outer skirt.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein all the actuator arms are connected by a unison ring located outside the outer skirt; and the unison ring is connected to an actuator.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upstream portion includes at least one row of variable stator vanes.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the upstream portion comprises a plurality of stages, each of which includes a row of rotating airfoils blades and a row of stationary airfoils.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the downstream portion comprises an impeller mounted for rotation, the impeller having an inner flowpath surface with an annular array of airfoil-shaped impeller blades extending outward therefrom.
 10. A gas turbine engine apparatus, comprising: the compressor apparatus of claim 1; a combustor disposed downstream of the compressor apparatus; a first turbine disposed downstream of the combustor; and a shaft interconnecting the first turbine and the compressor apparatus.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a second turbine disposed downstream of the first turbine.
 12. A method of operating a compressor apparatus that includes an upstream portion comprising an axial-flow compressor, and a downstream portion comprising a centrifugal-flow compressor, the method comprising selectively varying a stagger angle of a row of outlet guide vanes disposed between the upstream and downstream portions, so as to balance a mass flow rate of fluid passing from the upstream portion to the downstream portion.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the outlet guide vanes are positioned to effect relatively lower tangential velocity of fluid flow at relatively lower rotational speeds of the compressor apparatus and to effect relatively higher tangential velocity of fluid flow at relatively higher rotational speeds of the compressor apparatus.
 14. The method of claim 12 further including selectively varying a stagger angle of at least one row of variable stator vanes disposed in the upstream portion.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the variable stator vanes are positioned to permit relatively lower fluid flowrate at relatively lower speeds of the compressor apparatus and to permit relatively higher fluid flowrate at relatively higher speeds of the compressor apparatus. 